SAFE FLOAT FLYING SAFE FLOAT FLYING Plan your Way Out Before You Plan your Way Out Before You Plan Your Way In!Plan Your Way In!

As opposed To:As opposed To:UNSAFE FLOAT FLYINGUNSAFE FLOAT FLYING

MOST COMMON OCCURENCESMOST COMMON OCCURENCESBY PHASE OF FLIGHT (T/O CRUISE)BY PHASE OF FLIGHT (T/O CRUISE)

34 %34 %

Loss of ControlLoss of Control Engine failure Engine failure

Stalls Stalls

Collision with Collision with submerged submerged obstaclesobstacles

FuelFuel (mismanagement) (mismanagement)

(contamination) (contamination)

Improper loadImproper load c of g out / overloaded c of g out / overloaded

external loads external loads *-*-poor selection of t/o & poor selection of t/o & landing areaslanding areas (too short) (too short)

--

MOST COMMON OCCURENCESMOST COMMON OCCURENCESBY PHASE OF FLIGHT (ENROUTE)BY PHASE OF FLIGHT (ENROUTE)

23%23%

C. F. I. T. C. F. I. T. - -Controlled Controlled flight into terrain flight into terrain

- -collisions with collisions with obstructions towers obstructions towers etc.etc.

Loss of Loss of Situational Situational -awareness:-awareness: – usually caused by usually caused by

deteriorating wx deteriorating wx

– insufficient wx brfg. insufficient wx brfg.

– Unfamiliar with Unfamiliar with local geographylocal geography

MOST COMMON OCCURENCESMOST COMMON OCCURENCESBY PHASE (LANDGS &APPRCH)BY PHASE (LANDGS &APPRCH)

34%34%

StallsStalls Dragged wing Dragged wing

tips (cartwheel)tips (cartwheel) Nose overNose over Hard landingsHard landings Wheels down Wheels down

on landingon landing

Landing & t/o Landing & t/o areas too short areas too short rough rough wind & water wind & water cond.’s cond.’s

Glassy water Glassy water improper landing improper landing

attitude attitude

HARD LANDINGSHARD LANDINGS

Amphibian LandingAmphibian Landing

COMMON OCCURENCESCOMMON OCCURENCESTAXIING PRE-FLT & POST FLTTAXIING PRE-FLT & POST FLT

15%15%

Collision with Collision with submerged submerged obstaclesobstacles

Loss of control Loss of control while taxiingwhile taxiing

Manouvering Manouvering area not checkedarea not checked

Rough water Rough water strong cross strong cross windswinds

CHECK YOUR MANOUVERING AREACHECK YOUR MANOUVERING AREA

ENSURE THAT TAKE OFF & ENSURE THAT TAKE OFF & DEPARTURE PATHS ARE DEPARTURE PATHS ARE

FREE FROM OBSTRUCTIONSFREE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS PLAN YOUR WAY OUT

BEFORE YOUR WAY IN!!! About 50% of the accidents reviewed could

have been prevented if the manouvering area had been checked prior to TO or landing

Two Separate IssuesTwo Separate Issues

Technical Issues – how to fly to avoid Technical Issues – how to fly to avoid the problemsthe problems

Human Factors Issues – how to avoid Human Factors Issues – how to avoid the situationsthe situations

Technical IssuesTechnical Issues

What are the most common mistakes What are the most common mistakes that you see?that you see?

What advice do you want to give your What advice do you want to give your fellow float plane pilots?fellow float plane pilots?

FUEL MANAGEMENTFUEL MANAGEMENT

Filter all fuel from remote locationsFilter all fuel from remote locations Sample before adding to aircraftSample before adding to aircraft Perform enroute fuel calculations.Perform enroute fuel calculations. “ “Pre-” flight plan your trip, don’t plan Pre-” flight plan your trip, don’t plan

as you go (winds, wx, fuel as you go (winds, wx, fuel availability & grade.)availability & grade.)

AIRCRAFT LOADINGAIRCRAFT LOADING

ConfirmConfirm within c of g and structural limits within c of g and structural limits (mtow)(mtow)

If carrying external loads ensure that they If carrying external loads ensure that they are attached as per manual or manual are attached as per manual or manual ammendment ( boat racks)ammendment ( boat racks)

If you believe that you may be heavy; If you believe that you may be heavy; carry extra airspeedcarry extra airspeed

reduce angle of bank in turnsreduce angle of bank in turns

BE WEATHER WISEBE WEATHER WISE

Don’t push weatherDon’t push weather Familiarize yourself with significant Familiarize yourself with significant

towers and high terrain along route.towers and high terrain along route. Avoid flying in wx below 1000 feet Avoid flying in wx below 1000 feet Watch your attitudeWatch your attitude

C.F.I.TC.F.I.TCONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN

Concentrate on flying theConcentrate on flying the aircraft aircraft when in marginal wx. Or when in high when in marginal wx. Or when in high traffic areas.traffic areas.

Keep communications brief & to the Keep communications brief & to the point. Eliminate point. Eliminate allall unnecessary unnecessary conversation.conversation.

Be & stay aware of your situation, and Be & stay aware of your situation, and surrounding geographysurrounding geography

GLASSY WATERGLASSY WATER

Don’t land in middle of lakeDon’t land in middle of lake If shoreline is free from submerged If shoreline is free from submerged

hazards; Land close to it.hazards; Land close to it. Avoid max t.o.w.’s for glassy water Avoid max t.o.w.’s for glassy water

departuresdepartures Allow extra room for glassy water landingAllow extra room for glassy water landing Use “power-on” landing techniqueUse “power-on” landing technique Allow for extra room in high Allow for extra room in high

temperaturestemperatures

TAXIING & MANOUVERINGTAXIING & MANOUVERING Sail or sail taxi in strong or gusty wind Sail or sail taxi in strong or gusty wind

conditionsconditions Avoid having to taxi downwind in strong Avoid having to taxi downwind in strong

windswinds Use shorelines & other natural Use shorelines & other natural

“windbreaks” to turn aircraft.“windbreaks” to turn aircraft. Be “current concious” Be “current concious” Clients & pax should be advised that they Clients & pax should be advised that they

may have to move to where they can be may have to move to where they can be picked uppicked up

Human Factors IssuesHuman Factors Issues

Why do people put themselves into the Why do people put themselves into the situations described?situations described?– High windsHigh winds– Large wavesLarge waves– Over-grossOver-gross

Why do people land without checking for Why do people land without checking for submerged objects?submerged objects?

Situations and BehaviourSituations and Behaviour

People react to situations in fairly People react to situations in fairly predictable wayspredictable ways– Good Samaritan StudyGood Samaritan Study– Electric Shock StudyElectric Shock Study

Our personality is a factor in the kind of Our personality is a factor in the kind of situation we put ourselves intosituation we put ourselves into

Error Producing SituationsError Producing Situations

When you put yourself into stressful, When you put yourself into stressful, fatiguing situations, you will react fatiguing situations, you will react instinctively not rationally.instinctively not rationally.

When you stop thinking in terms of When you stop thinking in terms of hazards, and how to minimize risk, you will hazards, and how to minimize risk, you will become complacent.become complacent.

When you stop looking for information in a When you stop looking for information in a systematic, active manner, you will miss systematic, active manner, you will miss things.things.

Case StudyCase Study

Background InformationBackground Information

PilotPilot– Private pilotPrivate pilot

– Licensed since 1966Licensed since 1966

– Multi rating, Night Multi rating, Night ratingrating

– Previous accident in Previous accident in 19831983

AircraftAircraft– Cessna 180H on EDO Cessna 180H on EDO

floatsfloats– Max weight 2820Max weight 2820– Load =4 adult males, Load =4 adult males,

30 imp. Gals. Mogas, 30 imp. Gals. Mogas, outboard motor, outboard motor, fishing gear, tools, fishing gear, tools, jerry can of fuel, jerry can of fuel, collapsible boat lashed collapsible boat lashed to the floatsto the floats

– Requires 3000 feet for Requires 3000 feet for TO and climb over 50’ TO and climb over 50’ obstacleobstacle

Background InformationBackground Information

OperationOperation– Day of fishingDay of fishing

– Pax. were relativesPax. were relatives

– Pilot familiar with lakePilot familiar with lake

– Never operated into lake Never operated into lake with more than 3 POBwith more than 3 POB

– Longest straight run is Longest straight run is about 7000’about 7000’

– Departed Little Shuswap Departed Little Shuswap early AM, attempted early AM, attempted departure from Tobe Lake departure from Tobe Lake at 2 PMat 2 PM

WeatherWeather– Clear, sunny, 25Clear, sunny, 25ºCºC

– 29.84”29.84”

– Lake elevation 3900’, Lake elevation 3900’, density alt. 6100’density alt. 6100’

– wind from the wind from the easteast at 5 at 5 to 10 knotsto 10 knots